Watch-case



(No Model.)

0. R. DECKER.

WATCH GASE.

No. 478,412. Patented July 5,,1892.

'WfZ/VESSES 061 MM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

OSCAR R. DECKER, OF ROCHESTER, INDIANA.

WATCH-OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,412, dated July 5, 1892.

Application filed October 2, 1891. Serial No. 407,540. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR R. DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Fulton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watch-Cases and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in watches; and it consists in a new and improved watch-case, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the acccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the two side pieces or cases separated from the central annular part of the watch. Fig. 2 is a plan of the upper side of the case center, showing wall provided with two openings. Fig. 3 is a plan of the bottom of the case center, showing wall provided with three openings. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inner side of underlid, showing three locking-lugs. Fig. 5 is a diametrical section of case center and lids connected. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the case center. Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, of the casing and lids thereof connected together.

Referring to the several parts by their designating-numerals, 1 indicates the annular or ring-shaped central part of the watch-casing, which is formed on each side with the inner projecting flanges 2 3, the flange 2 being on the front of the central part 1, while the flange 8 projects from the back of the same. I form the removable front 4 and back 5 of the watchcasing with the inwardly-extending narrow locking cams or lugs 4 5, respectively, the front piece 4 being here shown provided with two of these locking-lugs, which are preferably arranged opposite to each other, while the rear piece 5 of the casing is shown formed with three equally-distant locking-lugs 5. The outer grooved surface of the front flange 2 of the central part 1 of the casing is formed with two locking-grooves 2, which are inclined toward toward their inner ends, notches 2 being formed in the flange 2 at the outer ends of the inclined grooves 2 to enable the locking-lugs 4 to enter the outer ends of said grooves.

As better illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the outer walls of the grooves 2 3 are milled or corrugated transversely and are designed to be respectively engaged by the inside of the lugs 4 5 of the front 4 and back 5, which lugs 4 5 are milled or corrugated transversely on their inner sides, which are designed to engage the outer walls of the said grooves 2 3, for a purpose presently disclosed. It will now be seen that by placing the front part 4 of the casing against the front of the central part 1, so that its locking-lugs 4 will enter the notches 2", and then turning the casing 4 to the right the locking-lugs 4, traveling in the locking-grooves 2 toward the inwardly-extending ends of the same, will not only look the outer casing 4 to the body part 1, but will also draw it in firmly and tightly against the part 1, thereby making a very close joint all around the casing, which will completely exclude dust, ($20. By reason of the outer walls of the grooves 2 3 and the inner sides of the lugs 4 5 being milled or corrugated transversely, as described, it will be readily perceived that when the front and back of the casing are connected to the central part 1, as before described, the corrugations of the grooves and the lugs will coincide with or fit into each other and will serve to draw the front and back firmly and tightly against the part 1, whereby a very close joint will be efiected and a casual disconnection of the parts elfectually prevented. By reason of the peculiar construction described it will be further perceived that the parts are so tightly connected that the casing will be rendered air-proof and dust will be effectually excluded therefrom.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that by my invention I dispense with the long spiral grooves on both parts of the casing, which have been used on thescrew-caseswhichare sometimes employed, while my locking-lugs, acting in conjunction with the inwardly-extendin g grooves 2, which need not extend around one-quarter of the circumference of the outwardly-proj ecting flange 2, give as close a joint as the old long spiral grooveson both parts of the casing, and besides the saving in time and labor required in the manufacture enables the outer lids or parts of the watch-casing to be removed in one-quarter the time and with that much greater ease.

The number of locking-lugs on the removable outer part of the casing may be regulated as desired, the number of the lockinggrooves formed in the flanges 2 3 of course corresponding therewith. I have shown the rear case 5 formed with three equally-distant locking-lugs 5, and the rear flange 3 of the central part 1 is formed with three equallydistant locking-grooves 3, notches 3 being formed in the flange at the outer ends of the grooves.

center part 1, having the projecting side flanges, the notches 2 3 formed in said flanges, and the inwardly-inclined lockinggrooves formed in the outer edges of the side flanges and extending from the notches 2 3 and having their outer side walls milled or corrugated, of the front and back sections having the inwardly-extending lockinglugs milled or corrugated on their inner sides to engage the milled or corrugated outer walls of the inclined grooves of the center part 1, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR R. DECKER. Vitnesses:

M. A. BAKER, ADOLPH BICCARD. 

